Abstract
Introduction: Low birth weight (LBW) infants are a high-risk group vulnerable to growth and developmental disorders. The kangaroo method care (KMC) is an effective intervention to support the development of these infants, but its implementation at the community level remains low. Accordingly, this study aims to analyze the effect of spousal assistance in kangaroo care on the growth of LBW infants.
Methods: A quasi-experimental design with a pre-post test control group approach was used in this study. The sample consisted of parent-infant pairs with LBW, comprising 42 intervention groups and 42 control groups. The intervention involved education and assistance in KMC practices for the fathers of LBW infants through home visits. Data were collected through questionnaires, observations of KMC practices, and measurements of infant weight and length. Finally, the Wilcoxon and Friedman tests were employed for paired data analysis, and independent t-tests and Mann-Whitney tests were utilized to compare the average results between the two groups.
Results: Spousal support significantly improved fathers’ knowledge and skills (P<0.05), and KMC duration at measurements 2 and 3 demontrated remarkable results (P<0.05). The weight gain of the intervention group (685.71 g) was greater than that of the control group (647.62 g), and the length of the intervention group increased by 3.33 cm, while that of the control group increased by 3.12 cm during the study period.
Conclusion: Spousal assistance in KMC could improve home-based KMC practices, thereby having a significant impact on increasing the weight and length of LBW infants.